The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-12
THE GERMANS IN AFRICA.

Heinrich vogelsang's Story About the First
German Colony There.
Now York Herald.
The man who claims the honor of having been
the first to establish q German colony in Africa
resides in this city, Mr.. Heinrich Vogelsang.
who spent number of years in Africa for Ger
man firms before making his purchase of lands
for colony. Mr. Vogelsang is square built
man Of medium height, with curly. light brown
hair and reddish beard. He speaks English
well, though his tongue still clings to its German
accent.
Mr. Vogelsang readily talked to Herald re-
porter on the subject of his African travels, and
seemed particularly proud to claim the honor of
having been instrumental in first planting the
German flag on African SOIL
Il first went to Africa" he said, "in 1877 as a
clerk for an English firm. and 1 in Cape
Town when the war with the Kafirs broke out
&ssrved IN an English regiment, and after the
struggle was over entered business in King
Williams Town, on the southeast coast of Cape
Colony. was in Bremen in 1879, aud engaged
to work for Bremen firm in Africa. They
sent me to the gold coast of West Africa where
1 stayed until july, 1882, when again returned
home.
ut was at this time that was approached by
one F. A. E. Luederitz. q capitalist, who had
conceived tho idea of establishing German
colony in Africa. He was enthusiastic the
subject, and l finally consented to lead an expe-
dition for the purpose OF purchasing land of the
Hottentots the southwest coast
"A brig of 300 tons, called the Tilly, fitted
with everything needful. including farming
utensils etc, was sent to Cape Town late in
December, 1882
ION my arrival thcra We at once commenced
our journey along the coast. There were nine
men in the expedition besides myself. We
went first to place called Angra Pequena
where. if possible. had determined to locate
town and buy land around it. The entrance to
this lovely spot from the sea is through pas
sage which leads into sort OF oval basin. 1t
forms one of the safest harbors IN the world.
In the center of the oval are three small is
lands. The water is six fathoms deep even in
the shallowest parts. We made a landing but
did not accomplish much during the winter.
ION April IL sent messenger inland to the
Hottentot chief. who had his council head
quarters at place called Bethanien. This chief,
who seemed very kindly disposed, sent us
horses upon which We rode to his village in
about four days. He received us in the most
hospitable manner and gave us the best he had.
Il succeeded finally 10 effecting a purchase of
the land from the boundary line of Cape Colony
to the second degree of south latitude, north,
and from the coast twenty miles inland. This
included the beautiful harbor Of Angra Peauona.
and you may be sure / was delighted We has
tened back to the coast. and the first thing did
was to send man to Cape Town with cable
message to Herr Luederitz. On receipt of this
made arrangements with the German govern
ment to have Angra Pequena protected by Ger
man arms DR. Nachtigall came on behalf of
the German crown in the latter part Of Novem
ber, 1884, to hoist the German flag on the sort OF
fort we had erected at Angra Peauena and to
ratify my contract with the Hotentot chief,
whom, by the way. knew Joseph. His
real name was q jaw breaker We had erected
several buildings in the place and 1t really began
TO assume the aspect OF village. All it needed
was people, and these began to come in slowly.
The land rolling, rich in character and
would make splendid farms
1.-THE fort, by the way, was named after me-
Fort Vorelsang-a name it bears to this day.
was there until 1885, when the purchase was
sold to company in Berlin, and thus ended my
connection with the frat German purchase in
Africa People had begun TO come in quite
lively when I left, and by this time Angra
Pequena must be a thriving place. / went back
to Bremen. and then came on to New York"
Mr.. Vogelsang would not give the terms of
the purchase from the Hcttentots. He said.
however, that the Berlin company gave 500. 600
marks, or $4,000 for the land